Psychology and Computers

Many see psychology and computers as two distinct fields that have little in common. The general consensus is that computer science is a field that has an enviable research culture while psychology is rooted in qualitative research of human behavior and perception.

However many of the innovations in computer science is influenced by psychology. The design of technology interfaces ranging from car dashboards to aircraft cockpits as well as operating systems for computers to game controllers – is mostly driven by psychologists who work closely with computer scientists. In addition, a lot of psychology research is highly statistical and requires sophisticated software to process large data sets.

Psychologists are increasingly utilizing technology to broaden their reach. The traditional www.rebootdata.net/destructive-online-activity-and-computer-games/ experimental methods in psychology, that focus on one aspect of behavior within an environment controlled by a psychologist or assessing broader patterns of behavior through interviews or self-report questionnaires, have inherent limitations. (Experiments are typically limited to one experiment while longitudinal studies are uncommon due to the difficulty in collecting and analyzing large amounts of data.)

The use of computer technologies has opened new avenues to understand individuals behavior. Computers are crucial for the brain-imaging technology known as fMRI. Researchers can connect certain brain regions to cognitive processes such as reading or memory. EEG (electroencephalography) is another example of a technology that uses computer processing to record and analyze brain activity.

The CCBT approach is now recognized by the UK’s National Health Service as an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression and anxiety. Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize the practice of psychotherapy by replacing therapy professionals with robots that examine and treat patients on the internet.